The updated 2020 Toyota HiLux has been priced and detailed today and will go on-sale on 27 August with prices starting from $23k and running to $62k.
The updated 2021 Toyota HiLux has been revealed today to try and steal some of the thunder from the all-new Isuzu D-Max. Toyota Australia said its local design team was involved in the design process with Aussie engineers also helping out with tweaks to the 2.8L turbo-diesel engine. Local suspension tuning included work on driving without a load and improved response and stability when towing.
These technical changes mean that braked towing capacity is now 3500kg for all 4×4 variants while 4×2 diesel variants are rated at 2800kg, an increase of up to 300kg. There are 27 HiLux variants with a payload of at least one tonne.
Toyota Australia Vice President Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley said the first major updates to the eighth-generation HiLux are the result of customer feedback.
“HiLux fans will appreciate the bold new look as well as the performance boost from our biggest-selling engine that makes towing and overtaking even easier in all conditions, including heading up a hill on a 40-degree summer’s day,”
“They will also find HiLux more fun to drive with sharper handling and an unladen ride quality that is now vastly improved, without compromising its body control when carrying a load over undulating roads,” he said.
“Such significant improvements to Australia’s favourite ute will inspire even greater go-anywhere confidence in HiLux’s dual role as a rugged workhorse and a family vehicle with the comfort and convenience of an SUV.”
Toyota said that details for the HiLux Rogue and HiLux Rugged X will be announced later.
Visually the new-look front end is the most noticeable exterior change for the updated HiLux, and includes smaller, slimmer headlights. Toyota said they look “meaner”…what do you think? Halogen lamps on Workmate and SR use a new four-bulb structure, while SR5 gains newly designed LED headlamps with a bright chrome surround.
Workmate 4×2 variants retain 16-inch steel wheels with a revised tread compound and grooves for the 215/65R16C tyres. Hi-Rider and 4×4 single-cab Workmate and SR have 17-inch silver steel wheels with all-terrain 225/70R17C tyres while 4×4 extra and double cab Workmate and SR are fitted with 17-inch black steel wheels and all-terrain 265/65R17 tyres. The 17-inch alloy wheel available with the SR option pack has changed to a dark-grey finish while retaining the 265/65R17 all-terrain tyres. The 18-inch SR5 wheel, shod with 265/60R18 rubber, changes to a two-tone machine finish.
Changes on the inside include an 8-inch infotainment display with control knobs rather than touch-screen operation for easier use. The multimedia system has enhanced voice recognition and adopts Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Beyond the infotainment changes are new speed and rev counters. The twin dials sit either side of a colour 4.2-inch multi-information display (MID) that includes a digital speedo.
The Workmate variant has black fabric seat and vinyl floor coverings. SR and SR5 feature an embossed black seat. SR retains its vinyl flooring while SR and SR5 double cabs have a 60:40 split base for the rear seat and a stowable armrest. In addition, SR5 is fitted with a premium shift knob and steering wheel and chrome door handles. All grades now receive all-weather floormats as standard.
The 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine has been tweaked and now makes 150kW and 500Nm of torque when running the six-speed automatic. The six-speed manual versions only make 420Nm of torque. Maximum torque is available from 1600-2800rpm for the auto and from 1400-3400rpm for the manual.
Toyota said the key change with the engine was swapping the old turbo for a larger, heavy-duty turbocharger with a ball-bearing cartridge, and a new common-rail injection system with a higher maximum fuel pressure of 250 MPa.
The 110kW/400Nm 2.4-litre four-cylinder, shares in the same refinements as the bigger engine, including the higher-pressure common-rail system, optimised pistons and rings, and the alternator which has been uprated from 80 to 100 Amps. HiLux 4×2 Workmate single and double cabs are also available with the 122kW/245Nm 2.7-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched with either a five-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic.
In terms of ride and handling, Toyota Australia said the suspension has been tweaked with input from local engineers. Key changes include, “longer leaf springs to suppress road vibrations, wider spacing of the springs for stability while cornering under load, and revised attachment points to promote steering stability”. Spring rates have been revised, shock absorbers and suspension bushes as well as revised cabin mounts to reduce vibration transmission into the cabin. Shock-absorber damping force on 4×4 and 4×2 Hi-Rider HiLux has been revised for improved ride comfort and less vibration, particularly with low loads, Toyota said.
Toyota has ramped up the safety features on the updated HiLux but they still fall short of the active safety suite available on the new D-Max. It carries over its autonomous emergency braking as well as a pre-collision system and traction-control technologies, emergency stop signal (hazard lights), high-speed cruise control, and lane departure warning with lane keep assist, reversing camera (pick-ups), seven airbags, and seatbelt reminders for all seats. On double-cab variants, the rear seats have two top tether anchors and two ISOFIX points. Downhill Assist Control is standard on all 4×4 SR5 variants and 4×4 automatic SR double cabs (including cab-chassis).
2020 HILUX DETAILS
GRADE, ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, BRAKED TOWING CAPACITY, PAYLOAD, PRICE (Not including on-road costs)
| 4X2 Single Cab (cab chassis) | |||
| Workmate, 2.7 P, 5M | 2500kg | 1225kg | $23,590 |
| Workmate, 2.7 P, 6A | 2500kg | 1210kg | $25,590 |
| Workmate Hi-Rider, 2.4 TD, 6M | 2800kg | 1260kg | $28,830 |
| 4×2 Extra Cab (pick-up) | |||
| SR Hi-Rider, 2.8 TD, 6A | 2800kg | 1130kg | $44,210 |
| 4×2 Double Cab (pick-up) | |||
| Workmate, 2.7 P, 5M | 2500kg | 1035kg | $33,070 |
| Workmate, 2.7 P, 6A | 2500kg | 1025kg | $35,070 |
| Workmate Hi-Rider, 2.4 TD, 6M | 2800kg | 1160kg | $40,160 |
| Workmate Hi-Rider, 2.4 TD, 6A | 2800kg | 1105kg | $42,160 |
| SR Hi-Rider, 2.8 TD, 6M | 2800kg | 1050kg | $43,230 |
| SR Hi-Rider, 2.8 TD, 6A | 2800kg | 1040kg | $45,230 |
| SR5 Hi-Rider, 2.8 TD, 6A | 2800kg | 1065kg | $53,690 |
| 4×4 Single Cab (cab chassis) | |||
| Workmate, 2.4 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1275kg | $39,520 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1250kg | $42,590 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1250kg | $44,590 |
| 4×4 Extra Cab (cab chassis) | |||
| Workmate, 2.4 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1150kg | $45,220 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1200kg | $46,250 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1195kg | $48,250 |
| 4×4 Extra Cab (pick-up) | |||
| SR5, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1045kg | $58,400 |
| 4×4 Double Cab (cab chassis) | |||
| Workmate, 2.4 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1125kg | $47,290 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1085kg | $48,510 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1085kg | $50,660 |
| SR5, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1105kg | $58,420 (new) |
| SR5+, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1105kg | $60,920 (new) |
| 4×4 Double Cab (pick-up) | |||
| Workmate, 2.4 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 995kg | $46,790 |
| Workmate, 2.4 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 980kg | $48,790 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 990kg | $50,010 |
| SR+, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1005kg | $52,010 |
| SR, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 995kg | $52,160 |
| SR+, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 1005kg | $54,160 |
| SR5, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1000kg | $57,920 |
| SR5+, 2.8 TD, 6M | 3500kg | 1000kg | $60,420 |
| SR5, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 995kg | $59,920 |
| SR5+, 2.8 TD, 6A | 3500kg | 995kg | $62,420 |
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